The Star Maker (L'uomo delle stelle) is a 1995 Italian film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. It follows the journey of Joe Morelli, a con-man who travels to small Sicilian villages in the 1950s, promising aspiring actors and actresses the opportunity to audition for big film studios in Rome. Morelli, however, is not affiliated with any studios and instead takes advantage of people's dreams and naivety for personal gain.
Along his journey, Morelli meets a young, naive girl named Beata, who dreams of becoming a famous actress and seeing the world beyond her isolated village. Morelli convinces her parents to allow her to travel with him to Rome, promising them that she will become a star. However, once they arrive in Rome, Morelli abandons Beata without a second thought.
As Morelli continues his scams, he starts to develop feelings for one of his victims, a beautiful woman named Liliana. Liliana is aware of Morelli's deception but decides to stick around and see where their relationship leads.
The Star Maker is a poignant and sometimes humorous examination of the power of dreams and the lengths people will go to achieve them. The film was well received by audiences and critics, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.
